Gabon: Court orders recount of Presidential election

AFP/Global Edition

Gabon's constitutional court on Tuesday will recount all the votes from last month's contested presidential election won by the son of longtime leader Omar Bongo Ondimba, it was announced.

A recount is planned "for Tuesday, September 29 beginning at 1400 (1300 GMT)," according to a letter sent to candidates who filed appeals with the court, said Richard Moulomba Mombo, a spokesman for opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou.

Another candidate's team provided the same information on condition of anonymity. The court also confirmed the information and said all votes would be counted again.

According to official results approved by the constitutional court, Ali Bongo won the August 30 election with 41.73 percent of the vote.

Ex-interior minister Andre Mba Obame finished second with 25.88 percent and Mamboundou placed third with 25.22 percent.

The single-round election followed the death of ex-president Bongo, who ruled the country for 41 years.

Opposition figures said the vote was rigged, and a total of 11 appeals were filed with the constitutional court, which has until October 18 to rule.

Mamboundou's spokesman said the letter from the court asked those who filed appeals to unite under one representative to oversee the recount. The spokesman, however, said candidates had different arguments and would not be able to do so.

The opposition claimed on Thursday that at least five people were killed in violence that swept Gabon's oil city of Port-Gentil between September 3 and 6 after the disputed poll.

Source: AFP Global Edition

Afari-Gyan to address Nigeria’s senators’ retreat on reform

Nigeria’s Senate ad-hoc committee reviewing the country’s 1999 Constitution has invited the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, to speak at its forthcoming retreat in Kaduna State. Also expected to speak at the forum, which will be attended by the Speakers of the 36 states’ houses of assembly, is the chairperson of the defunct Electoral Reform Committee and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais. The retreat will hold on October 8 and 9, 2009. A statement, on Sunday, in Abuja, by the Office of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who also heads the 44-member committee, said Dr. Afari-Gyan’s presentation is titled “Designing Electoral Laws for Effective Election Management: Global and Regional Perspective.” The topic, according to the statement, will touch on the legal framework for elections, constitutional courts and independent candidacy among other issues. “As you might be aware, Dr Afari-Gyan is the Chairman of the Ghanaian Electoral Commission and has a good knowledge of international standards and best practices on electoral matters as well as vast experience in election management,” the statement by Paul Odenyi, Mr Ekweremadu’s aide, said. Mr. Odenyi also said the Electoral Commission boss has confirmed his coming. Dr. Afari-Gyan-led Ghana’s election commission has successfully organized four general elections in the last 11 years. The elections are those that brought former President Jerry Rawlings into his last term in office, brought former President John Kufuor to power as well as his re-election. He also led the body in the election that brought the incumbent, John Atta Mills, to power early this year. Mr. Afari-Gyan was a member of the ECOWAS fact-finding team on the 2007 general elections in Nigeria. The six-member team, led by former Gambian President Dauda Jawara, appraised the preparations for the April 2007 election which brought President Umaru Yar’Adua to power. International support Mr. Ekweremadu had, earlier this month, said that the ad-hoc committee would seek technical assistance from international organizations in the task of reviewing the 1999 Constitution. Already, the committee has written to America’s National Democratic Institute for assistance. The decision is aimed at bringing in an international expert in the field of constitution and electoral laws as well as electoral management. The Senate ad-hoc committee is embarking on a separate amendment process from that of the House which is chaired by Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada. Both committees had disagreed over the position of Mr. Nafada in the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. The House committee has already conducted public hearings into the six bills forwarded to the National Assembly by President Umaru Yar’Adua. Its Senate counterpart, it was learnt, will organize hearings on the bills after the retreat in Kaduna. Source: Next.com

Gabon locks down city amid riots

Police used teargas and batons to clear protesters in Libreville A night-time curfew has been declared in Gabon's Port Gentil after violence by opposition activists and attacks on French interests in the city. Earlier, opposition groups clashed with security forces in the capital, Libreville, after presidential election results declared Ali Bongo the winner. France, Gabon's former ruler, has told its 10,000 citizens to stay inside. Critics say the poll, held on the death of Ali's father, Omar, who ruled the oil-rich state for 41 years, was fixed. French protection In other violence in Port Gentil, Gabon's second city, opposition supporters stormed a jail, freeing its inmates. ALI BEN BONGO Born in 1959 in Brazzaville, his mother is Gabonese singer and musician Patience Dabany Studied at Sorbonne in Paris before entering politics in 1981 Became foreign affairs minister in 1989 - forced to quit in 1991 because he was too young Organised pop-star Michael Jackson's visit to Gabon in 1992 Served as defence minister 1999-2009 Source: Ali Ben Bongo's website Bongo dynasty continues They later rampaged through the streets and set fire to the French consulate - as many accuse the former colonial power of propping up the late Omar Bongo's government. Crowds also attacked installations belonging to the French oil company, Total. France has about 1,000 troops stationed in Gabon and its International Development Minister Alain Joyandet said "measures were in place" to protect French citizens. Earlier, police used teargas and batons to disperse protests in Libreville. 'Electoral coup' Former interior minister Andre Mba Obame, who came second in Gabon's presidential election, told AFP he "does not recognise the results" and that he is in fact the winner. "This is an electoral coup d'etat. I do not recognise the election results. It is me who won," Mr Mba Obame said by telephone from a secret location. Opposition leaders have denounced the poll results as a fraud and accuse Mr Bongo and his supporters of carrying out a coup d'etat. Another of the beaten candidates, Pierre Mamboundou, led protests overnight in Libreville. A senior member of his party, the Gabonese People's Union, says Mr Mamboundou was seriously injured in the head and shoulder, but was now safe. 'Unifier' Amid the unrest, Ali Ben Bongo pledged to be a uniting force for the oil-rich nation. "As far as I am concerned, I am and I will always be the president of all the people of Gabon," he said after his victory was announced. "I am and I will always be at the service of all, without exclusion." Mr Bongo was widely tipped to succeed his father, who died in June. One of the world's richest men, the late president owned a string of properties in France and was an unflinching ally of Paris. A month before his death, French courts began to investigate Mr Bongo for corruption - allegations he denied. Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty.

Bongo wins disputed Gabon ballot

Ali Ben Bongo was widely tipped to succeed his father The son of Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo has been declared the winner of the country's presidential election, amid protests from opposition groups. Ali Ben Bongo won almost 42% of the votes, with his nearest rival on 26%. Mr Bongo, whose father ruled the oil-rich nation for four decades before his death in June, was expected to win. But his critics say the vote was fixed to ensure a dynastic succession, and activists and security forces have been fighting amid widespread unrest. Prison breakout Police used teargas and batons to disperse hundreds of opposition activists in the capital, Libreville. But disturbances have continued, with crowds of activists breaking into a prison and freed hundreds of inmates in the second city of Port-Gentil. AFP news agency reporting that the crowds then set fire to France's consular building in Port-Gentil. The election has been mired in controversy - with the announcement of results delayed amid a misunderstanding between election officials over how to verify the votes. All three of the main candidates declared victory in the poll - while another candidate went on hunger strike to protest against what he saw as irregularities in the election process. Sunday's vote was generally peaceful but tense, with long queues of voters waiting to chose a successor to Omar Bongo. One of the world's richest men, the late president owned a string of properties in France. He was an unflinching ally of France and a key element in French influence in Central Africa. But he denied corruption charges in French courts. BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says that Ali Ben Bongo is seen as less closely linked to the French elite than his father, despite being educated at the Sorbonne. He is also somewhat detached from ordinary Gabonese, struggling to speak local languages with real fluency, he says. Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty. Source: BBC

Confusion over Gabon candidates

Andre Mba Obame could be boosted by the ethnic vote Two days before elections in Gabon to replace the late President Omar Bongo, at least five out of 23 candidates have said they are pulling out of the race. They say they will now back Andre Mba Obame, a former government minister. But several other candidates denied media reports that they had also withdrawn in favour of Mr Obame. The favourite to win Sunday's poll is Ali Ben Bongo, the son of the former president who ruled Gabon from 1967 until his death in June. Some of the candidates have complained of voter registration irregularities, including Bruno Ben Moubamba, who has gone on hunger strike in protest. He, however, denied reports that he was one of those who had withdrawn from the race and was supporting Mr Obame. Following overnight talks, one of those pulling out of the race, Anna Claudine Assayi Ayo, said that "consultations resulted in a secret vote and the designation of Andre Mba Obame [as candidate]". Mr Obame was the interior minister under President Bongo. He was a senior member of the ruling Gabonese Democratic party (PDG) until deciding to run as an independent after it selected Ali Ben Bongo as its candidate. He, and some of those who withdrew from the election, are from the Fang ethnic group - Gabon's largest - and correspondents say this could help him pose a serious challenge to Mr Bongo. However, the anti-Bongo vote still looks set to be divided, while the PDG candidate enjoys the advantage of having the best-financed campaign. Gabon is a major oil producer but most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty. The late President Bongo was facing charges of corruption in a French court when he died. BBC

Cunting begins in Gabon election

The capital, Libreville, was said to be tense during the day Counting has begun in Gabon, following an election to choose a successor to President Omar Bongo, who died after 41 years in power. Scheduled polling closed at 1700GMT but some stations continued to accept votes after that as they had opened late. Turnout was said to be be high with long queues at some polling stations. President Bongo's son, Ali Ben Bongo, is favourite to succeed but the poll has been marred by the pullout of a number of candidates. Five of the 23 withdrew on Friday and another, Cassimir Oye Mba, pulled out on polling day. He said he did not want to vindicate a "calamitous electoral process which doesn't look like being clean and credible". He was one of the major rivals, along with Andre Mba Obame. Observers In the capital, Libreville, the atmosphere was described as tense throughout the day. Ali Ben Bongo hopes to win over a divided opposition One voter in the Louis district, Tony Rapariga, told AFP: "If Ali wins, we will burn everything. You will not find even 10 of his supporters here. It's impossible for him to win." The results of early counting are expected within hours but the full tally is not due for a few days. There have been more than 300 observers overseeing the vote. Ali Ben Bongo has promised to boost what he says is the prosperity that Gabon enjoyed during his father's years in power. But his rivals say there has been endemic corruption and favouritism in Gabon. Omar Bongo was one of the world's richest men, with a string of properties in France. He was an unflinching ally of France and a key element in French influence in Central Africa. BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says that Ali Ben Bongo is seen as less closely linked to the French elite than his father, despite being educated at the Sorbonne. He is also somewhat detached from ordinary Gabonese, struggling to speak local languages with real fluency, our correspondent says. Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty.

Zimbabwe: GNU Parties Seek Election Freeze Extension

Loughty Dube

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Harare — THE three political parties in the inclusive government want to extend the one-year moratorium on by-elections by three years, government sources have revealed.

In the global political agreement (GPA) signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations last September, the parties agreed not to field candidates against each other for a year stipulating that only the party that previously held the seat could field a candidate. But this does not stop other parties or independent candidates from contesting the seat.

The parties identified elections as the main cause of violence in the country, hence the agreement on the moratorium not to contest against each other in by-elections for a year.

The moratorium lapses on September 15, hence the talks to extend it.

Authoritative government sources told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that the three political parties were now working on extending the moratorium by three years.

"There are negotiations within the inclusive government to extend the moratorium on the holding of by-elections and none of the parties are eager to go for pending by-elections now as the situation is not conducive for all of them," one of the sources said. "There is fear that violence might raise its head at a time when the inclusive government still has pending issues of the GPA."

With the success of the inclusive government on the economic front, the sources said Zanu-PF was afraid of a backlash from the electorate in the constituencies where by-elections are due while the MDC-T was not certain if its popularity has grown in the so-called Zanu PF strongholds.

The sources said the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC was against the holding of the by-elections and preferred an extension of the inclusive government to five years, as it feared losing the only remaining seven parliamentary seats under its control.

However, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Gorden Moyo, said it was not the intention of the inclusive government to extend the moratorium on elections and said everything was moving towards the holding of the by-elections.

"There are no intentions to amend the GPA as we are implementing it as it is. We do not believe that the by-elections will be violent and we are putting in guarantees to ensure that any electoral competition will be fair," Moyo said.

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He, however, said he did not know if the three principals had discussed the possible extension of the one-year agreement.

Zanu PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said the extension of the one-year moratorium depended on the three political parties.

"The political parties can extend the moratorium depending on what they agree on but I do not know whether the principals have initiated discussions on that matter, so far I am not aware of any listing of that matter," Chinamasa said.

There are close to 15 by-elections due in the senate and the House of Assembly but President Mugabe has yet not called for the holding of by-elections.

Several MDC-T members have pending cases in the courts and if they are all prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to more than six months imprisonment, the number of by-lections due could rise to more than 30 throughout the country.